Apple Releases iOS 12.4 With New Wireless Data Migration When Setting Up a New iPhone and Apple News+ Improvements - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Releases iOS 12.4 With New Wireless Data Migration When Setting Up a New iPhone and Apple News+ Improvements

by

Apple will today release iOS 12.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 12 operating system that first launched in September 2018. iOS 12.4 comes more two months after the release of iOS 12.3, another major update that brought the new TV app.

The iOS 12.4 update is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings --> General --> Software Update. As with all iOS updates, iOS 12.4 is free to download, but it may take some time for iOS 12.4 to propagate to all iOS users.

ios12banner
During the beta testing process, there were no outward-facing features or major changes discovered in iOS 12.4. According to Apple's release notes, the update introduces a new iPhone migration option to directly transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone, and it introduces enhancements to Apple News+. From Apple's release notes:

iOS 12.4 introduces iPhone migration to directly transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone, includes enhancements to Apple News+ and improves the security of your iPhone or iPad. This update:

iPhone migration
- Introduces the ability to wirelessly transfer data and migrate directly from an old iPhone to a new iPhone during setup

Apple News
- Makes downloaded issues accessible in the My Magazines section, both offline and online
- Adds all publications in Apple News+, including newspapers, to the catalog at the top of the News+ feed
- Adds the ability to clear downloaded magazine issues by selecting History > Clear > Clear All

Other improvements and fixes
- Includes a security fix for the Walkie-Talkie app on Apple Watch and re-enables Walkie-Talkie functionality

This release also includes support for HomePod in Japan and Taiwan.

The update was believed to include support for Apple Card, laying the foundation for Apple's new credit card, though the release notes make no mention of this. It could still add the underlying framework for ‌Apple Card‌, which is set to be launching this summer and could come at any time.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Tuesday May 26, 2026 6:32 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Read Full Article • 52 comments
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Just Expanded iPhone Driver's License Feature to Arkansas

Wednesday May 27, 2026 9:41 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting today, the feature is available in Arkansas, which is the 14th state to offer it. However, it may take some time to roll out to all users. To...
Read Full Article • 49 comments
Apple Watch Blood Glucose Monitoring Feature 2

Apple Watch for Diabetes: The Latest on Apple's Plans for Non-Invasive Blood Sugar Monitoring

Tuesday May 26, 2026 9:30 am PDT by
For many years now, it has been rumored that the Apple Watch will eventually gain non-invasive blood sugar monitoring capabilities, which would enable millions of people with diabetes to track their blood glucose levels without needing to prick their skin with a needle or wear a dedicated continuous glucose monitor. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple recently shifted oversight of...
Read Full Article • 76 comments

Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
zorinlynx
90 months ago
The wireless migration feature was probably introduced to reduce crowds in Apple Stores.

When people upgrade to a new phone, they tend to hang around in the store until their new device restores from an iCloud backup, which could take 15-20 minutes or more. A direct transfer from the old phone to the new will allow this step to be skipped, moving along customers more quickly.

This is just a hunch; I wouldn't be surprised if it was the main driver behind the feature though.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cannono Avatar
cannono
90 months ago
I want that dang Card to go live today
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
i007 Avatar
i007
90 months ago
Very disappointed that there's no mention of Apple Card in this update... I'm eagerly waiting for that to debut and I was hoping that 12.4's release would see a side-by-side launch of the card :(
This is extremely disappointing. There has been zero info since the keynote. Apple releases are getting less and less exciting.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lartola Avatar
lartola
90 months ago
Why are people queuing up for something that can get you into debt? Why is Apple creating something that can get you into debt?
Apple is creating the credit card because it helps them keep existing users tied to their ecosystem by making it harder to switch to another platform such as Android, and may even yield them some profits too. As to why people queue up for it, I think that's just a result of all the hype Apple creates around everything they do.

Also note that a credit card by itself doesn't necessarily get anyone in debt. People get themselves in debt because they don't use their credit cards responsibly.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Westside guy Avatar
Westside guy
90 months ago
I am extremely disappointed that the summary makes no mention whatsoever of new emoji.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Flojomojo Avatar
Flojomojo
90 months ago
The wireless migration feature was probably introduced to reduce crowds in Apple Stores.

When people upgrade to a new phone, they tend to hang around in the store until their new device restores from an iCloud backup, which could take 15-20 minutes or more. A direct transfer from the old phone to the new will allow this step to be skipped, moving along customers more quickly.
Sure, but it's useful for everyone else, too. Transfer your data in the car on the way home, without wifi! Transfer data from your broken phone to a working one while on vacation, without wifi! Give a new corporate-owned phone to an employee and transfer all the data, without wifi!

Now the bottleneck at the Apple store and everyone else will just be people who don't know/remember their own passwords, as has and will always be the case.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments